SC seeks explanation from Punjab, Bihar on police brutality

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of police personnel beating a girl in Punjab and contractual teachers in Bihar.

The apex court issued notices to the chief secretaries of Punjab and Bihar seeking explanation by March 11 on the conduct of the police.

Besides the state government, the apex court sought the views of the Attorney General and the Additional Solicitor General on the issue.

This comes days after a woman was beaten up by the police in Tarn Taran in full public view after she complained of sexual harassment.

News channels showed evidence of policemen beating the girl who had complained of sexual harassment by taxi drivers in Tarn Taran. The video showed police officials manhandling her, hitting her with a baton and even slapping her.

The woman who was beaten up demanded that strict action be taken against the policemen. "I appeal to the government to investigate the matter. Where are our politicians when we need them? They come to us only when they need votes," she said.

In another incident of police lathicharge in Bihar, a group of protesting contract teachers was beaten up on Tuesday.

The protesting teachers had been demanding that their jobs be made permanent. They have also been demanding parity of pay with regular teachers.